Paris gets new Athletic Director

By Michael SeleckySports Editor

Wednesday

Jun 13, 2018 at 2:09 PM

Sometimes change is inevitable, and even though that's the type of thing that can make some people uncomfortable, it can also create opportunities for worthy individuals who had no idea the chance they truly deserve would come up exactly when it did.

For Paris head varsity football and track coach Gary Crusha that just happened to be the case when former Coyotes Athletic Director and varsity boys basketball coach Wade Billington quit recently to accept a position at Salisbury High School, creating an opening that didn't stay open very long.

"Well, I applied for the job (the second) week of May and I was notified the Wednesday after Memorial Day," said Crusha. "My duties will be to run the athletic department, scheduling contest, officials, event workers, budget, supervise and mentor young coaches."

With Mike Fible having also moved on recently to become the AD and varsity baseball coach at Linn Community Schools, there's been some trunover at Paris Community Schools recently. This includes Darren Beaver becoming the new varsity baseball coach, Dennis Dent is the new varsity boys basketball coach and Collin Huffman is the new varsity softball coach.

"I did not make any decision to hire anybody. I met most of them before hand, but there was probably a two week window, we didn't have an official Athletic Director," Crusha said. "I was not in a position to help hire at he time."

When it comes to events already on the summer schedule, Crusha doesn't intend on changing anything already planned and ready to take place. This includes the Paris Girls Basketball Shootout June 14-15 at the high school and elementary school starting both ndays at 8 a.m.

"It will not effect anything, I'm not sure yet what will be different. Everyone has their own personality," said Crusha. "I'm going to encourage and promote Paris Athletics. I would like to see more multi-sport athletes. I don't encourage specialization. These things may not be different, but this is what I want to see in our programs."

Once the dead week takes place at the end of July and the beginning of August, Crusha's role as football coach will once again be in full swing when practice begins Aug. 6-10 with daily sessions from 7-11 a.m. The Coyotes will then scale back to 7-9 a.m. for Saturday and rest on Sunday before going hard again from 7-11 a.m. on June 13-14. While times are TBD for June 15-17, all of this is building up to the Paris Jamboree June 18.

"I feel our Athletic Department has a bright future. We have some good coaches and have hired some good coaches," Crusha said. "I want to support them in any way I can to see that they enjoy what they do."

Communities

Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted.
The Mexico Ledger - Mexico, MO ~ 300 North Washington, Mexico, MO 65265 ~ Privacy Policy ~ Terms Of Service